Improvement in electro-magnetic sewing-machines



2 Sheen-Sheet 2.

N0. LZZ, Paten-ted Dec.5,1871.

UNITED STATES MILFORD, CONNECTICUT.

PATENT OFFICE.

vGEORGE M. HOPKINS, OF ALBION, ASSIGNOR TO HIMSELF -AND GEORGE H.

SHATTUCK, OF NEV YORK, N. Y., ASSIGN ORS TO HENRY G. THOMPSON, OF

IMPROVEMENT IN ELECTRO-MAGNETIC SEWING-MACHINES.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 121,622, dated December5, 1871.

To at(y whom it muy concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE M. HOPKINS, of Albion, in the county ofOrleans and State of New York, have invented certain Improvements inSewing-.Ellacl1ines, of which the following' is a specification:

The iirst part of my invention relates to the combinzttion of one ormore helices and armatures with the needlebar or arm or main shaftot' asewing-inachine in such a manner that when a current of electricity ispassed through the helices motion will be communicated to the needle-baror arm or main shaft by the drawing of the armature up or down. Thesecond part of my invention relates to the combination of suitablegearin actuated by a spring or weight to change the elastic current atregular intervals, to insure uniform motion to the needle-bar and partsconnected with it.

Figure l represents the helices as connected with a straight needle-bar.Fig. 2 represents the helices connected with the shuttle-carrier. Fig. 3is a side elevation of a machine, showing the helices connected with therocking needlearm, also the gearing' for changing' the electric current.Fig. I shows the helices connected with a crank on the revolving shaftofthe sewingmachine.

In Fig. I, A is the ordinary support for the needle-bar ofaseWing-machine. B is a needlebar ot' some non-magnetic material whichslides through suitable ways in the support A. C is a softiron armatureplaced on the needle-bar B. I) I) are helices firmly fixed to thesupport A in such a position as to allow the armature C to draw into oneand the other alternately, as the electric current is changed. a a and bb are Wires leading from the helices to the gearing for breaking thecurrent. In Fig. 2, E is a nonmagnetic rod attached to theshuttlecarrier, having the armature C, which is surrounded by thehelices D D which draw the armature back and forth as the electriccurrent is changed from one to the other.

I design to move the shuttle or looper and needlebar at proper intervalsby changing the electric current, so that the stitch can be made withoutgearing or levers; or the reciprocating motion may be given to any partof the machine by the helices and armatures, and communicated by gearingor levers to any other part.

In Fig. 3 the same letters of reference indicate parts similar to thosereferred to in Fig. l.

The wires u a and b b are clectriiied by means of any of the knowndevices fore-hanging electric currents attached to the clock-work F. c care wires connecting the battery.

The speed ofthe machine is controlled by the fan-wheel C', which may bemade to revolve with varying speed by turning the fans (I d. In Fig. 4,H, I, and J are oscillating' helices, so arranged as to draw alternatelyon their respective armatures Ii, L, and M, which are connected with thecrank N on the main shaft of a sewing-machine.

I claim as my inventionl. The combination of the helices I) l) with theneedle-bar B of a sewing-machine, substantially as shown and described.

2. The combination of the helices I) I) with the rod E, or itsequivalent, and the shuttle-carrier or looper of asewing-maehine,substantially as and for the purpose hereinbetore set forth.

3. The gearing F, in combination with the above devices, as shown anddescribed.

Signed by me this 17 th day of January, 1870.

GEO. M. HOPKINS.

